Tuesday, December 30, 2008

It has been a long time since we took out the sink. Now that the new sink is in, and the water is running, Paul is learning to use the new faucet with spray feature. He picked up this new skill quite quickly:

Worn out from all the excitement, Paul and Indy rest on the newly-tiled floor:

Monday, December 29, 2008

Whoonu, a Cranium game, which is fast, fun, and perfect for 4 players of all ages. The kids have been having a blast playing the game. A round only takes about 10 minutes. The object is to figure out what things, listed on cards, a player likes best. It's simple and fun, portable (comes in a tin), and engaging--all the best attributes of a great family game.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Because I have not made any yet, since the range is still not hooked up, I have been putting this post off. I'm betting by next Monday, though, it will be (the stove, that is...hooked up), so I pulled out this odd little book I found at a yard sale years ago. It's called the Christmas Stocking Book, and it was published in 1957. Inside are some obscure recipes (obscure to me, anyway) for alcoholic beverages, like a "Tom and Jerry" made with hot milk, rum and whiskey, and an egg, to be served in an 8-oz. goblet. "Farmer's Bishop" involves 6 oranges, flaming brandy, and a chafing dish. There are craft ideas, all very simple, and suggestions for involving the children, and making home made gifts. The book is, of course, out of print, and a different book by the same name comes up in searches most of the time. I am not sure this book is worth seeking out, as I only use it for one thing...

The best recipe in the book, and the reason I bring it out every year, aside from its decorative red-and-green cover, is the ginger cookie recipe:

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

And it's getting close, but work continues today, and it looks like we will still be banished from the kitchen this evening for Christmas Eve dinner. Since we traditionally order Chinese food for the evening, it won't be too bad, though it looks like paper plates and plastic cups, too!

Libby found a lovely recording for Barber's Christmas arrangements for orchestra which we will be listening to today. We will also put on a Cello Christmas, A Yorkshire Christmas, and a few others. Catch Libby at 5, 6 and 10 pm Masses around town (email me for locations). Otherwise, we'll be here, with a roaring fire and the smell of whatever-they-did-in-the-kitchen-today. And Peking Duck.

Also...I have not mailed any Christmas cards yet. I am usually late, but never this late. Here's the Christmas photo...note the Mona Lisa smiles on everyone's face. I dunno. I took 200 photos, and this was the best. Really.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

This is not an optical illusion, but a Christmas ball with a 36" diameter. I imagine the neighbor-in-the-tower might look out on a windy night and worry that the decoration of death is coming to strike him down. One big gust, and it's all over.

Monday, December 22, 2008

...and money is the Oxford Junior Dictionary. I am sure you've all heard that the enlightened editors have removed words that children no longer need; words like "nun" and "monk" and "christian" are no longer included. And if that particular word-ban does not bother you, try looking up "beaver" or "magpie" or even "acorn." This time of year, a curious young nipper might find "holly," but "ivy" is gone. He won't find the "almond" in his Swedish Christmas pudding, either. These words have been replaced by such modern terms as "blog" and "voicemail." In one change that borders on irony, the word "blackberry" was removed to make room for the word "Blackberry," with the updated definition: No longer is it a fruit, but a device.

None of this had to happen for me to rant against the silly thing called a "Junior Dictionary." Why not just hand a proper dictionary over to the kids when they are ready? What is a junior dictionary for, except to destroy the natural enjoyment of words? I recall tedious dictionary lessons in class using a junior dictionary, looking up a list of words, writing out the dictionary definitions. Yawn. Left to my own devices with a legitimate dictionary, I would spend hours at home reading the real thing, page after page, distraction followed by blessed distraction. So many words! Old meanings, new meanings, big words, small words, the familiar and the unfamiliar together, words with more than one meaning, all bound up in a big fat book.

And wasn't the size of the book an attraction? It seems that the one objective of the publishers of the Junior Dictionary is a consistently small size. Thus, when new words are added, "old" words are removed. Size matters, indeed, at least to the publishers.

So as children sit inside and play video games, rather than play outside or attend religious services, the dictionary is changed to reflect a brave new world. After all, if we kept words like "saint" and "sycamore" a child might become curious and wonder what he's missing.

The snow is pretty, that is, except for the drive last night. I had to drop someone off at a train, and as we rounded "Dead Man's Curve" the car to my left hit the wall. He was not traveling too fast, and it was a side-on collision, away from which he was able to drive. But gosh, it was frightening! I have seen the debris left on DMC over the years, but I have never seen anyone actually hit the wall. If possible, when the weather is bad and the distance is short, I'd rather be walking.

Which reminds me of winter hiking safety, especially for those venturing out to track critters, go birding, our just hike and enjoy the scenery. Remember some helpful hints (not an exhaustive list):

Dress in layers, avoid cotton, and let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. Bring water; even if there is snow around, eating snow can bring your body temperature down quite quickly. Avoid touching metal with your bare hands (binoculars, spotting scopes, dog leashes). Be aware of the signs of frostbite. Long hikes and winter camping should be approached with caution even by seasoned outdoorsmen.

Note: In this photo, my children are breaking all the rules. They are not wearing hats or gloves. Trip does not even have a jacket on, and he is wearing a cotton shirt and undershirt. I guess I can give him credit for wearing two layers. Annika's coat is flapping unbuttoned. Paul (hidden by Trip) is wearing a fleece pullover, but no hat, and with a new haircut he was loosing heat through his head like a chimney. Luckily, they are only in the front yard for the Christmas photo (200+ photos, and 4 kids can't behave long enough to let me get one good shot; oh, the faces they made!). They were probably eating snow in the next scene...

So, be prepared, but don't let required preparation put you off! A winter hike, or even a walk around a small piece of property, is a beautiful thing. Birds are easy to see, tracks are easy to find, and, well, it's just plain pretty. Fresh snow changes a muddy brown landscape into a clean white canvas. Good bird seed or suet can bring birds right to your window. Snow makes the air feel clean and smell fresh. Enjoy it safely!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

A bold-faced meme...boldface the things you have done. H/T Karen E., whose shockingly-clever blog title stuns me every time I see it. ;)1. Started your own blog2. Slept under the stars3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii5. Watched a meteor shower6. Given more than you can afford to charity7. Been to Disneyland (and DisneyWorld)8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped12. Visited Paris13. Watched a lightning storm at sea14. Taught yourself an art from scratch15. Adopted a child16. Had food poisoning17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty18. Grown your own vegetables19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France20. Slept on an overnight train21. Had a pillow fight22. Hitch hiked23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (a long time ago...)24. Built a snow fort25. Held a lamb26. Gone skinny dipping27. Run a Marathon28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice29. Seen a total eclipse (of the moon, from a plane)30. Watched a sunrise or sunset31. Hit a home run32. Been on a cruise33. Seen Niagara Falls in person34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (some of them, anyway)35. Seen an Amish community36. Taught yourself a new language37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (in general)38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person39. Gone rock climbing40. Seen Michelangelo's David41. Sung karaoke42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant44. Visited Africa45. Walked on a beach by moonlight46. Been transported in an ambulance (it was the kid, but I was there)47. Had your portrait painted (drawn, in Paris)48. Gone deep sea fishing49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (the girls did; I stayed below)51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling52. Kissed in the rain53. Played in the mud54. Gone to a drive-in theater55. Been in a movie (it was a documentary)56. Visited the Great Wall of China57. Started a business58. Taken a martial arts class59. Visited Russia60. Served at a soup kitchen61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies62. Gone whale watching63. Got flowers for no reason64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma65. Gone sky diving66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp67. Bounced a check68. Flown in a helicopter69. Saved a favorite childhood toy70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial71. Eaten Caviar72. Pieced a quilt73. Stood in Times Square74. Toured the Everglades75. Been fired from a job76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London77. Broken a bone78. Been on a speeding motorcycle79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person80. Published a book81. Visited the Vatican82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem84. Had your picture in the newspaper85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating88. Had chickenpox89. Saved someone’s life90. Sat on a jury91. Met someone famous92. Joined a book club93. Lost a loved one94. Had a baby95. Seen the Alamo in person96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (actually, I waded as I had the camera)97. Been involved in a law suit98. Owned a cell phone99. Been stung by a bee(wasp)100. Read an entire book in one day

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The deft conductor Jeffrey Milarsky led the Axiom Ensemble, a flexible group of Julliard School students who have palpable enthusiasm for challenging contemporary music and the technical skills to play it...In the Introduction to this Messiaen work, there is also simultaneity: the violins play a long searching melody, the brasses and metallic percussion instruments crackle with Indian-derived rhythmic patterns, the solo piano erupts with staggered cluster chords, and more. Yet Messiaen seems to be inviting you to turn off the part of your brain that demands to grasp what you are hearing intellectually. Instead you listen awestruck, as if hovering amid the wondrous sounds of life spinning around you. The performance, with the excellent pianist Matthew Odell, was vibrant and compelling.

ETA: I actually attended this concert, despite the conflict of Trip's concert. Don went to Trip's and I went to Libby's. It was not a perfect compromise, but it worked. Sadly, I will miss her performance tonight after all. But I will get to see Trip tomorrow, at 2 PM, at the Ethical Humanist Soc. in Garden City. Hey it's free! C'mon by!

Friday, December 12, 2008

One window is completely gone, to accommodate the range hood (big white thing in between sheet rock). The green color of the windows...yuk. I know green is in right now, and it is my favorite color, but 70's green has to go.

OK. Grey floor. Grey cabinets. Steel racks. White appliances. Lots of wall to paint. I really want to add some red. But not a whole wall. So I am thinking about this for a backsplash:

It's actually miniature (12" square, more or less) glass brick, in a "subway" pattern. I think it's quite pretty. The two middle kids are very vocal about preferring blue over red, but I don't care for blue...besides, blue and grey is sooo Civil War.

I still haven't figured out how I will arrange all the cabinets. Since I bought them (3 years ago??) I have changed my mind several times about the construction plans. Now I have one big cabinet left over and decision about where to put it will depend on how the room looks with the range in place. It may become a breakfast bar of sorts.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a construction-free weekend, and the construction finishing next week!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Yesterday they had the double fun of confession and a test on the same day. One of the questions (it was a quick test) was to name any three Sacraments. One boy got two, and was struggling with the third, so I gave him a hint: "Why are you here today?" I asked, gesturing my head towards the confessional. He answered, without missing a beat, "Because I'm Catholic!" Good answer. He gets and A.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Georgia (not ours, the other one) has a different alphabet: ქართული დამწერლობა. I had no idea. Pretty, isn't it?

When I was a child I was fascinated by the first few pages of each volume of our encyclopedia. There I could find out how our alphabet evolved and became what it is today. The "A" volume had versions of the letter "a" from earliest writing to the modern form. Hey, and each subsequent volume had the history of its letter, too! And I loved the Kipling classic, "How the Alphabet Was Made," from the Just So Stories.So imagine my amusement when I found this website with an animation of the development of alphabets: See them in action.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Warning: My brother Pete once quipped that the Watersons make him want to commit mass murder. Play this with care.

Perhaps the Watersons are an acquired taste; I completely enjoy them, but Don can't bear any of their music. I play my favorite Watersons CD for Advent and Christmas when he's out of the house. I like it when I am cooking. Alone. With wine, or beer. Or cider.